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Don't even think about a return to Klein-style cuts, warn labour leaders

Friday event designed to send a message - and offer alternatives
EDMONTON, April 2 /CNW/ - Leaders of some of Alberta's largest unions
will gather in Edmonton Friday morning to warn the Stelmach against making
major cuts to public spending in next week's provincial budget. They will also
present a list of alternatives which they say will help Albertans weather the
deepening recession.
"The last thing we need is for the government to cut spending, lay-off
workers or roll-back wages," says Gil McGowan, President of the Alberta
Federation of Labour. "That approach was tried by Ralph Klein during the last
recession - and it just made a bad situation worse."
McGowan and other leaders - like Heather Smith from the United Nurses of
Alberta (UNA) - will also make it clear that the government is in for a rough
ride if they decide to implement Klein-style cuts.
WHAT: Union pre-budget media briefing
WHERE: IBEW Training Centre, 4234-93 Street, Edmonton
WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 3
The news conference will be attended by representatives from large unions
in both the public and private sectors including: McGowan from the AFL;
Heather Smith from the Nurses; Tim Brower from the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers (IBEW); Elisabeth Ballermann from the Health Sciences
Association of Alberta (HSAA); Dennis Mol from the Canadian Union of Public
Employees (CUPE); Don Boucher from the Communication Energy Paperworkers
(CEP); and David Climenhaga from the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
(AUPE).
NOTE FOR ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: This event will be held in one of IBEW's
training halls, within sight of a group of apprentice electricians working on
training projects. These apprentices are among the thousands of construction
workers who face job losses on oil sands related projects - and who would
benefit from ramped-up spending on public infrastructure projects. There will
be good opportunities for interesting pictures and cover shots.